Industrial Lasers up 37 percent from 2009

Shipments of complete industrial laser systems up $47 million, 37 percent despite following a decline of 50 percent in 2009

Shipments of industrial laser equipment and systems in 2010 are reported at $356.2 million, according to AMT, The Association For Manufacturing Technology. Unit sales jumped 44.9 percent for a total of 1,210 units. CO2 lasers accounted for 88.5 percent of the value of shipments, which is virtually unchanged since 2009. Unit sales of CO2 lasers made up 70.2 percent of shipments. The report compiled from 19 manufacturers and distributors also shows the number of lasers configured as full systems accounted for the same share of shipments as in 2008 after a spike in 2009. The value of orders configured as full systems was $309.2 million.

Year-end figures for 2010 are based on actual data reported by companies voluntarily participating in the Laser Market Data Survey. Growth is based on revised 2009 data reflecting any changes that survey participants made during the course of 2010. “The 37 percent pick up in 2010 is a modest rebound in the face of the nearly 50 percent decline in sales during 2009,” stated Patrick McGibbon, Vice President-Strategic Information & Research and Membership. “Prospects look bright for the remainder of 2011 as new technologies are brought to market and fiber lasers continue to expand.”

The web-based benchmarking survey tracks and reports actual order data from North American manufacturers and suppliers of industrial lasers including: complete industrial laser machines (workstations and laser source), beam delivery only (workstations), and source only.

Data is collected at a transaction level which enables multi-dimensional reporting across destination, application, configuration, and end user industry which enables participants to analyze the market by different criteria. Participation is free, but detailed data is available only to companies that actively contribute data. Any North American company building or supplying industrial laser equipment may participate in AMT’s Laser Market Data Survey.

Companies that meet the eligibility requirements and would like to participate in AMT’s statistical program can register at www.amtlasersurvey.com.

Annual Salary Survey

Before the calendar turned, 2016 already had the makings of a pivotal year for manufacturing, and for the world.

There were the big events for the year, including the United States as Partner Country at Hannover Messe in April and the 2016 International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago in September. There's also the matter of the U.S. presidential elections in November, which promise to shape policy in manufacturing for years to come.

But the year started with global economic turmoil, as a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing triggered a worldwide stock hiccup that sent values plummeting. The continued plunge in world oil prices has resulted in a slowdown in exploration and, by extension, the manufacture of exploration equipment.